Clasp or fastener.



No; '78963. PATENTED MAY 9, 1905.

A. DE SAINT CHAD/IAS. CLASP 0R FASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE l5, 1904 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

firmly/VHS PATENTED MAY 9, 1905.

A. DE SAINT CHAMAS. CLASP 0R PASTENER.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 15, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

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Merz am @ww #WEA/TOR WIT/VESSES:

A TTOR/V Patented May 9, 1905. i

PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT DE SAINT CHAMAS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CLASP OF! FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 789,681, dated May 9, 1905.

Application filed June 15,1904. Serial No. 212,651.

T0 all 7,071,017@ il; 'ln/(ty cm1/cern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT DE SAIN'I.` CHAMAS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and lmproved Clasp or Fastener, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to en velop-clasps such as shown and described in the Letters Patent of the United States No. 756,712, granted to me April 5, 1904. i

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved clasp or fastener for conveniently and securely closing 0r sealing envelops, wrappers, and like means and for permitting' the postal authorities or other persons to quickly open the envelop, wrapper, or other receptacle for examining the contents thereof without detaching the clasp or fastener from the receptacle.

'Ihe invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as will be more fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying' drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding' parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a face view of the improvement. Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 are face views showing' the several steps for closing an envelop or like receptacle by the clasp. Fig'. 6 is a sectional plan view of the closed envelop, the section being on the line 6 G of Fig. Fig. 7 is a cross-section of the same on the line 7 7 of Fig. 5, and Figs. 8 to 13 are face views of modified forms of the improvement.

The improved clasp or fastener is preferably made lfrom a sing'le piece of sheet metal and is provided with a plate A ol" a length corresponding approximately to the width of the envelop B or other receptacle to be closed by the improvement. From the ends of the plate A extend integral end flaps C, and from the upper edge of the said plate A, preferably at the middle thereof, extends integrallyT a holding-flap I), formed with a tongue E by duce a lJ-shaped slot F, the said tongue E extending toward the plate A and its free edge lying close or adjacei'it to the upper edge of the plate A, as plainly illustrated in Fig. 1. The corners of the end flaps l, as well as the `liap D, are rounded, and in a similar manner the corners at the free ends of the tongue E are rounded oli', as plainly indicated in Fig. 1.

In using the clasp or fastener described it is only necessary for the user to place the closing-Hap B of the envelop or other recepf tacle B on top of the plate A, pushing the free end of the flap B under the tongue E, as shown in Fig. 2, and then the operator bends the flap D over, as shown in Fig. 3, thus earrying along the outer portion of the flap B', the tongue E then lying on the inner face of the V[lap B. When this has been done, then the plate A, with the parts attached thereto, is folded over onto the upper portion of the envelop B, so as to close the mouth thereof, and then the flaps C are folded inwardly toward each' other and over the front face of the envelop B, so as to completely close or seal the envelop by holding' the closing-flap B thereof in a closed position.

By the arrangement described the postal authorities or other persons by simply opening the flaps C and unfolding' the plate A back to the position shown in Fig. obtain access to the contents of the envelop for inspecting the same, without, however, detaching the clasp or fastener from the liap thereof. After the inspection is completed the plate A is turned and the iiaps C are bent over again onto the front face of the envelop, .so as to reseal the latter, as previously explained.

By rounding the corners of the tongue E the user is enabled to readily place the iiap B onto the tongue, and by rounding olf the in ner corners of the [lap l) the latter can be readily bent over, as previously explained, as the rounded corners serve as guides for the bending operation. The corners of the flaps C are rounded to present no sharp corners on the outer face of the envelop.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 8 the plate A is provided with very long end flaps C and a comparatively short transverse Hap D and tongue E and U-shaped slot F.

IOO

In the modified form illustrated in Fig. 9 the plate A2 is provided with end flaps C2 and a transverse ilap D2, having two tongues E2 and corresponding slots F2, and in the modified form shown in Fig. 10 the plate A3 is provided with end fiaps C3 and two spaced or separated transverse flaps D3, each provided with a tongue E3 and U-shaped slot F3.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 1l the plate A4 is provided with end flaps C1L and a transverse Hap D formed with three tong'ues Ff, one in the middle and two at the ends of the Hap Di, as will be readily understood by reference to said figure.

In Fig. 12 the plate A5 is provided with end flaps C5 and a transverse flap Dhaving tongues E at both ends and a slot G between the upper edge of the plate A5 and the inner end of the flap D5, so as to serve as a guide for conveniently bending the flap D5 over for conveniently fastening the clasp to the envelop, as above explained.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 13 the plate A'5 is provided with end flaps C and two spaced transverse flaps D, each having tongues E at each end.

In using the fastener shown in the modified forms illustrated in Figs. 8 to 13 the user proceeds in the same manner as above describedthat is, the closing-liap B/ of the envelop is placed under the corresponding tongue or tongues, then the transverse flap of the fastener is bent over, after which the plate is turned over the upper end of the envelop, and then the end flaps are bent over toward each other onto the front face of the envelop, as previously explained.A

The clasp or fastener described is very simple and durable iu construction, can be cheaply manufactured, and readily accommodates envelops or like receptacles of different widths.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent"- 1. Aclasp made from asingle piece pf sheet metal and comprising a plate, a transverse holding-flap extending integrally from the upper edge of the plate and adapted to be folded over the same along the upper edge of the plate, a tongue formed on the said transverse flap and having its free edge extending along the upper edge of the said plate, and end aps integral with the ends of the plate and extending at both of said ends beyond the ends of the transverse holding-flap, and adapted to be folded inward toward each other and over the said plate.

2. A clasp made from a single piece of sheet metal and comprising a plate, end flaps integral with the ends of the plate and adapted to be folded inward toward each other and over the said plate, a transverse holding-Hap extending integrally from the upper edge of the plate and adapted to be folded over the same along the upper edge of the plate, and a tongue cut from the said transverse Hap in such a manner that a U-shaped slot is formed, the tongue extending' toward the said plate.

3. A clasp made from a single piece of sheet metal and comprising a plate, end flaps integral with the ends of the plate and adapted to be folded inward toward each other and over the said plate, a transverse holding-fiap extending integrally from the upper edge of the plate and adapted to be folded over the same along the upper edge of the plate, and a tongue cut from the said transverse Hap in such a manner that a U-shaped slot is formed, the tongue extending toward the said plate and its free edge lying' adjacent to the upper edge of the plate.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two sul scribing witnesses.

ALBERT DE SAINT CHAMAS.

lVitnesses:

AUSTIN BIERBOME, HARRY F. BENNETT. 

